4-H Youth Development

Howard County Market Steer Registration - Due January 2nd

We will be tagging steers on Saturday, January 4, 2025 (snowdate: January 11th) at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Animals must be halter broken. Tagging, weighing, etc. will be done from 9:00 A.M. until 10:30 A.M.(please be in line no later than 10:30).

If you have steers and commercial heifers that need to be tagged, they need to be on two separate forms. Please complete and return it by January 2, 2025. If you plan to mail the forms, please do so ASAP. If you choose to not mail and want to bring to our office, the office is open from 8:00-4:30 each day but will be closed from Tuesday, December 24th through Wednesday, January 1st. Keep in mind our new location at 8930 Stanford Blvd., Suite 25, Columbia, MD does NOT have a drop box nor a place to leave the envelopes after hours.

Make checks payable to:  University of Maryland

• Letter and Transmittal Form - Transmittal Form due January 2nd
• Liability Waiver Form - You can put all children on one form - Due with paperwork on January 2nd
• Map of the traffic flow
• Online registration form - Print out and is due with paperwork on January 2nd.  If you have any problems contact Rick via hodiak@umd.edu.

Record Books - Due January 1st

Electronic copy of your record (book/sheets) need to be emailed to records@howard4-h.org by January 1st. 

Paper copy of your record (book/sheets)  need to be dropped off by January 3rd.  If you choose to not mail and want to bring to our office, the office is open from 8:00-4:30 each day but will be closed from Tuesday, December 24th through Wednesday, January 1st. Keep in mind our new location at 8930 Stanford Blvd., Suite 25, Columbia, MD does NOT have a drop box nor a place to leave the envelopes after hours.

Enrollment Information

As the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant universities, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, empowering six million young people throughout the United States. Cooperative Extension of 1862 and 1890  land-grant universities provide the leadership to engage young people in 4-H in all 3,007 counties of the United States.

4-H'ers belong to 4-H Clubs that meet in local communities.  University of Maryland Extension Volunteers help youth learn life skills to become caring, competent and responsible individuals through club work, community service, and 4-H project curriculum.  4-H members work with their club leaders to develop their educational plans for each year.  These plans might include community service projects, speakers, field trips, or learning activities.

4-H'ers participate in county-wide programs organized by volunteers and University of Maryland Extension faculty.  These programs include activities such as fashion shows, camps, public speaking contests, workshops, and more.  With so many community clubs and specialty clubs in Howard County, there is always something to do in Howard County 4-H.

Please click on the Club Information link to find specific information about joining a club and the 4-H clubs in Howard County.

To join the Howard County 4-H program, you will need to complete the online enrollment process.  Please keep in mind that we ask potential members to attend at least one 4-H meeting prior to enrolling in the online system.  

Current re-enrollment for the 2024 is currently open and the link to register is https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in.

2023 Essay Question:  Describe the benefit of participating in 4-H to an elected official and why they should support the 4-H Program.

2024 Essay Question:  How has your involvement in 4-H changed your life?

2024 Special Awards:  We are looking for your support.  We have special awards for the 2024 Howard County Fair in need of sponsorship.  Since we had no awards last year we may have a number of awards that become available.  Please check availability often.